She said it’s aimed at harnessing the talented pool of local artists, storytellers and crew so the region can share in a larger slice of Queensland’s screen industry, which contributes more than $1 billion to the state’s economy annually.

“From Innisfail to Thursday Island there are so many talented and hardworking people in the region’s screen industry,” the Premier said.

“There is global demand for Queensland screen talent and we want to do everything we can to tap into that in the Far North which is what this strategy is all about.

“We know that as well as producing amazing content, backing the screen industry in Queensland boosts the economy and supports jobs, key priorities for my government.”

Among the actions is to investigate options for production facilities and assess the need for permanent infrastructure.

Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said new industry and screen events will also be held.

“What this strategy does is help those in the industry or emerging to develop their skills and create stories in their own, tropical backyard,” he said.

“We already have amazing production companies based here like Jonathan M Shiff Productions, Lone Star Company and Biopixel and I can’t wait to see what more we can do here.”

Screen projects recently filmed in Tropical North Queensland include the Torres Strait docu-drama series Blue Water Empire, feature film Celeste and IMAX blockbuster Great Barrier Reef 3D.